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CANADIENS OPPORTUNISTIC, GOOD

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The Penguins could have won every game of the ongoing Montreal series, though it would have been stopped after four. They’ve enjoyed a shot edge and a territorial edge.

Yet the Canadiens have survived, forcing Game 7. The Canadiens are opportunistic. Don’t confuse that with lucky (though some element of good fortune is involved; consider the Penguins hitting three goalposts in Game 6).

Nearly every time the Canadiens get a good chance, they capitalize. The Penguins could negate some of these chances, but haven’t. Witness Game 6:

*Kris Letang loses control of the puck, then falls down. One pass later, the puck is on the stick of Mike Cammalleri, the series’ hottest shooter. 1-0, Montreal.

It probably wouldn’t hurt to pay a little attention specifically to Cammalleri, either. The Canadiens have done a number on Sidney Crosby. But who to match up against Cammalleri?

Listeners (of all people) made a few good points about Coach Disco’s strategy:

*Malkin isn’t playing enough at even strength, especially given that Montreal’s main defensive focus has been Crosby. That should point to Malkin getting more 5-on-5 time, but he played just 14:12 at even strength in Game 6 (compared to 14:58 for Pascal Dupuis).

A lot of this comes down to catching a break. I’ve already mentioned the Penguins’ three goalposts in Game 6. A bad early whistle negated a Malkin goal. Jaroslav Halak nearly juggled Malkin’s bad-angle backhand into the net.

The most basic strategy to be employed in Game 7 involves playing Crosby, Malkin, Jordan Staal and the Penguins’ top four defensemen a ton. Martin has shortened the Canadiens’ bench all playoffs. Using the stars more for one game shouldn’t cost the Penguins a significant energy advantage.

Trade Buzz: Thursday’s 1-for-1 trade of young underperforming players saw the Minnesota Wild acquire center Victor Rask from the Carolina Hurricanes for left winger Nino Niederreiter. Carolina did an excellent job of being able to get out of the Rask contract, who has three years remaining with a $4 million cap hit. Rask has 1 goal, 5 assists on the season, mirrored in a 22-game goal drought. The logic here for Minnesota is taking the chance on a playmaking center who can help fill a top-9 spot longer term if the Wild move on from Eric Staal. Minnesota is also playing the card that a change of scenery will benefit the 24-year old who posted a career-high 21 goals, 48 points in 2015-2016.

Niederreiter’s trade value was stunted because of his contract, where he has three years left on his deal with a $5.25 million cap hit. Niederreiter is a player who is extremely hard to play against, drives possession well, and has three 20 goal seasons over his last four full seasons. Injuries (18 goals in 63 games) kept him from a 4th straight 20-goal season in 17-18. The Niederreiter acquisition also sets up as great insurance for the Hurricanes if they can’t resign Micheal Ferland. In the short-term, Carolina’s center situation is a mess with Jordan Staal sidelined with a concussion, but they’re getting the better player who fits the identity they’re trying to establish upfront, especially on the wings where they’ve identified the need for Patric Hornqvist type players.